Ottawa– The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, is pleased to announce the names of five Canadian women being presented with a 2013 Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. The awards honour those who have made outstanding contributions to the quality of life for women in Canada.
"We owe a debt of gratitude to the Famous Five who successfully persevered in an effort to strengthen women's rights in Canada," said Minister Leitch. "Today, we honour the generations of women who have followed in their footsteps to bring equality to women and girls."
This year's recipients are:
- Constance Backhouse – Ottawa, Ontario
- Nahanni Fontaine – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Susan Shiner – St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Julie Lalonde – Ottawa, Ontario (Youth Recipient)
- Cherry Smiley – Vancouver, British Columbia (Youth Recipient)
Persons Day is celebrated annually during Women's History Month, and marks a pivotal moment in Canadian history when, on October 18, 1929, five Canadian women – Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby, and Nellie McClung – fought and won the right for women to be legally recognized as ‘persons' in Canada.
The Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case were created in 1979 to mark the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking Persons Case. Each year, five recipients are chosen from across Canada to receive the award. This year marks the 34th year of the awards, which will be presented at Rideau Hall on Tuesday, October 29, 2013.
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